Steve Kroop at Flytec <<info>>
writes:

The PWC is moving towards a conical shaped end of speed section (CESS)
for their competitions and it is being used at the super final in progress.
Flytec and Brauniger tried to clarify this new CESS concept with the PWC prior
to the super final but we never received a reply to our quires. Consequently, we
had to rely on pilots which have been at the test races, as to how the CESS is
normally defined. Up until the super final, Flytec and Brauniger were under the
impression that the CESS would be an inverted truncated tip cone that was
defined by the radius of the truncated tip at the elevation plane of the
waypoint (based on the waypoint altitude) and the slope. We have beta firmware
3.37y (and then updated to 3.38a) available to handle this CESS, as outlined
below.

This test version includes the ability to define the new conical end of speed
section (CESS). In this version it is possible to set the second to last
waypoint in the Competition Route as a CESS cone. The cone is defined with the
default slope ratio of 1:2.5 and the radius of the truncated tip at the
elevation plane of the waypoint (based on the waypoint altitude as entered in
the waypoint list). As shown below:

It has come to our attention that at the PWC super final that it is allowable to
define a CESS where the tip of the cone is floating above the ground. In this
case, please follow the work -around procedure below to enter such a CESS. Once
the CESS concept is fully defined and codified, Flytec will of course, create an
easier method to define a "floating CESS" in the instrument.

At the moment, the best way to define a floating CESS in the 6030:

1- duplicate the waypoint to be used for the CESS but with the altitude set to
the altitude of the CESS tip plus 100m

2- set the CESS radius in the Competition Route to 250m (which equals to the
cone ratio of 1:2.5). If a different slope is used then the radius will need to
be adjusted appropriately (i.e., 100 x the slope)

As an example from the first practice task: The cone was defined with the tip at
50m AGL or 231m MSL and ratio 1:2.5. In this case you must make a new waypoint
(with the same coordinates) with altitude set at (231m + 100m = 331m). Then set
the radius to 250m and the ratio to 2.5 when setting the parameters for the CESS
in the Competition Route.

Flytec is very sorry for this inconvenience. Of course, Flytec and Brauniger
want to make it as easy as possible for the pilot to define the CESS in the
instrument and would be very thankful for a definitive and codified description
of the CESS. Of course we also welcome feedback from the pilots
info@flytec.ch or
info@brauniger.com.

This is an unfortunate situation that seems to occur entirely too often. Where
governing bodies make changes without consultation with equipment manufacturers
thereby causing unnecessary confusion and anxiety for the competitors and last
minute and rushed accommodations for the manufacturers. In the this case, the
pilot MUST rely on his instruments since there is no CESS visible in the sky and
it strikes me as very strange that the PWC would implement a change of this
nature without discussing it with the manufactures of the equipment that the
pilot must rely on to comply with the requirement.